Download: ITUNES
“I had grown up listening to hip-hop music and rap music, and now I had somehow ended up playing with a hip-hop group.”
– Mike Fratantuno
I've known Mike Fratantuno for a while now. We met as he was making the transition from founding member and bass player with the Black Eyed Peas, to scoring music for various high-profile film and television productions with his bandmates Brian Lapin and Terence Yoshiaki, also former members of the Peas.
The Black Eyed Peas was a fruitful time for Mike, Brian, and Terence, as they honed their skills and forged a bond together that would eventually lead to the creation of their company, Transcenders.tv. “Let’s Get It Started”,"Request + Line", and “Where Is The Love”, featuring Justin Timberlake, are but a few of the #1 hits for the Peas that the trio collaborated on.
Since then, they have worked extremely hard building a formidable reputation in the entertainment business from their studio in Marina Del Ray, where they create original, innovative scores to accompany such television shows as GOSSIP GIRL, MADAME SECRETARY, BLACKISH, and popular films SUPERBAD, THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, AND FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL.
Mike was kind enough to join me in the barn and share his love of the bass guitar, hip-hop, and stories from the road.
Special Mentions: Bill Walton – Back From the Dead, RUSH – Permanent Waves, Black Eyed Peas - Bridging The Gap, Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk, Black Eyed Peas – Behind the Front, Fender American Vintage '63 P Bass, Charles Mingus - Mingus Ah Um Remastered